"Its master."
Arin looked at the creature before him. It was kneeling on the ground, it’s head lowered. Arin slowly pointed at himself. The creature did not react. Ayan narrowed his eyes. Arin looked at his right hand. The Dungeon Master’s Mark was still glowing, albeit dimly. "But why?"
Neither Ayan nor Saira answered. Arin turned back to the monster. "Can you understand me?" The creature raised it’s head. For a moment it’s glowing eyes locked onto Arin’s. And then it lowered it’s head again. Arin scratched the side of his face. "Okay, that’s a yes, I guess." Saira was watching the creature closely. "It is not hostile." "Obviously," Arin said, gesturing towards the monster. "It’s practically worshipping me." Ayan turned to face him. "Do not mistake recognition for obedience."
Arin turned to glare at him. "What do you mean by that?" "Exactly what I said." Ayan turned back to the kneeling creature. "Recognition does not always mean obedience." Arin followed his gaze. "Then what does it mean?" Ayan was silent for a long moment. Arin sighed.
All of a sudden a blue box appeared before Arin’s eyes. He blinked in surprise as the message within it registered in his mind.
[Quest Available.]
Ayan looked confused as Arin’s expression changed. "What happened?" Arin was silent as he read the message. A second box appeared above the first.
[First Quest: Save Allies From Impending Doom.]
[Objective: Prevent the deaths of your allies.]
[Time Limit: 1 Hour.]
[Penalty: Crippled.]
[Reward: ???]
[Additional Reward: Dungeon-related reward.]
A third box appeared. A red clock counted down from 59:59.
"Rayan," Arin muttered. Saira looked at him. "What happened?" "The adventurers." Ayan’s expression changed. "What about them?" "They’re in danger." "How do you know that?" Arin gestured towards the space infront of him. A blue box hovered there. "I got a quest." "What kind of quest?"
Saira asked. "To save them." Ayan looked towards the tunnel. "Where are they?"
Arin opened Dungeon Mapping. The dungeon appeared before his eyes as a series of blue lines showed the tunnels and crevices within the stone. Several blue dots floated around the passages. Arin’s eyes widened as he saw where they were. "There." He pointed towards the map which suddenly became visible to everyone. "They’re heading deeper into the dungeon."
Saira looked at the map, but couldn’t see the blue dots. " Can you track them?" "Yes." Arin looked towards Ayan. "Then we should go." Ayan’s voice was grim. Arin nodded. "Now." He looked towards the kneeling monster. It remained still. Arin hesitated for a moment. "You." He gestured towards the creature. "Stay here." The monster raised it’s head and looked at him for a moment before lowering it again. Arin wasn’t sure if it had understood, but it no longer mattered. He turned back to Ayan.
"We need to hurry." Ayan gave a short nod. "Then ride with me." Arin blinked. "You’re going to carry me?" "My dragon form is considerably faster." Arin turned to look at Saira. "And her?" Saira crossed her arms over her chest. "I can fly." Arin turned to look at her. She looked back at him with an unimpressed expression. "You forget that I am a demon far too often."
"Sorry." Arin climbed onto Ayan’s back. Ayan lowered himself so Arin could climb on more easily. "Hold on." Arin grabbed onto one of Ayan’s horns. "Ready." Dark energy surrounded Ayan’s body before his human form began to shift and change. Scales grew over his skin and his limbs transformed. Two great wings unfurled from his back, spanning the entire length of the tunnel. Within moments the human had vanished, replaced by a massive dragon.
"Still impressive," Arin muttered. Ayan’s voice was deeper as he lowered his head to Arin’s level. "Hold on." Saira stepped forward and dark energy surrounded her form. Her horns grew longer and her eyes became an even deeper shade of red. Black markings trailed up and down her arms. Then her wings shot forth from her back, spreading open to reveal twin black sails. Arin stared in shock. "You have wings." Saira gave him a strange look. "Obviously." "I’ve never seen your demon form." "You’ve known me for less than a day." "Fair."
Saira spread her wings and Ayan turned his head towards the tunnel. "Where?" Arin opened Dungeon Mapping again. "Straight ahead." Ayan crouched low before launching himself forward. A massive shockwave sent clouds of dust across the tunnel. Arin’s grip on Ayan’s horn nearly slipped as the dragon took off. He barely kept his balance as the two soared through the air. "Woah!"
Ayan’s wings beat once, then twice. The two of them shot forward at an incredible speed. Saira flew alongside them. Arin looked down at the map. The blue dots were growing closer. He frowned. "They’re still moving." "Are they safe?" Saira asked. "I don’t know." Arin turned his attention to the map. "They’re getting closer to something." Ayan’s eyes narrowed. "What?" "I can’t tell."
Arin moved his hand over the map, revealing several hidden passages. He enlarged the image until the markings filled his vision. His expression darkened as he looked at the new information. "There." Ayan turned his head behind him. "What?" "There’s another passage." "Where does it lead?" Arin looked at the map. "I don’t know." His eyes widened as he looked at several new blue dots on the map. He turned to look at Saira. "Monsters."
"How many?" she asked. "Too many." Ayan beat his wings harder. "Then we must reach the humans first." Arin nodded. "Keep going." The clock continued to count down.
[54:27]
Arin stared at it. The penalty was worrying, not because he minded crippling, but because the System thought it was a good idea. Whatever was happening in this dungeon was apparently serious enough to warrant that kind of punishment. "Faster." Ayan’s wings beats faster as the two of them shot down the corridor. Saira kept pace next to them. After several seconds she turned to look at Arin. "How will you explain us?" she asked.
Arin looked at her. "What do you mean?" "To the humans." She gestured towards Ayan. "You are traveling with a dragon." Then she pointed at herself. "And a demon." Arin looked at Ayan, then at Saira, then back at the tunnel. "That’s a good question." Ayan said smoothly. "You could simply tell them the truth." Arin narrowed his eyes at him. "The truth is that you’re a dragon who nearly killed me yesterday."
Ayan said nothing. Arin looked at Saira. "And you’re a demon who beat me half to death." Saira raised an eyebrow. "Nevertheless, I survived." "That isn’t the point." Ayan said. "They may attack us." "Exactly." Saira flew closer to Arin. "So how will you tell them about us?" Arin’s eyes were fixed on the tunnel ahead. The distant sounds of battle grew louder with every moment. He tightened his grip on Ayan’s horn.
"I’ll think of something." Saira gave him a skeptical look. "That’s your plan?" "For now." Ayan suddenly slowed. Arin looked ahead. The tunnel opened up into a large room. Far in the distance Arin could see flashes of light.
BOOM!
Ayan’s eyes narrowed. "They are fighting." Arin looked at his map. The blue dots were gathered in one place. Rayan, Dev, Nisha, Tara, and the other adventurers. His expression hardened. "We’re close." Saira spread her wings. "Then let’s finish this quickly." Ayan let out a deafening roar that sent shockwaves through the dungeon.
The adventurers ahead of them froze in place. Rayan turned around, his eyes wide with surprise. "What was that?" The Guild Master raised his weapon. Everyone turned their attention to the sound. Another roar sounded from far away, but it was much closer than the first one. It was Arin.